Rep. Drew Springer, R-Gainesville, dons an “I’m Poncho” sticker in support of his House colleague Rep. Poncho Nevarez, D-Eagle Pass.

AUSTIN – First it was panic buttons. Then one member got a security detail. Now, state lawmakers are pushing against the actions of some open carry activists with…stickers?

On Wednesday, a number of House members donned “I’m Poncho” stickers in an effort to stand with Rep. Poncho Nevarez, who was assigned a security detail after open carry activists confronted him in his office two weeks ago. The effort was the brainchild of Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, who said he’d handed out around 50 of them by early in the day.

“I don’t think we should let anybody threaten us with physical force,” said Springer, who printed the stickers after Nevarez made the joke his colleagues should wear “I’m not Poncho” signs to ensure their safety. “I think it definitely calls into question the fears that some people have. I see it as troubling.”

In Texas, you can openly carry long arms like rifles or AR-15s, but the same has been illegal for handguns for more than 125-years. This session, multiple open carry groups are throwing their support behind Rep. Jonathan Stickland’s House Bill 195, which would allow Texans to openly tote pistols without a license.

Springer, who supports licensed open carry but is not sure he would support a “constitutional carry” bill like Stickland’s, said Wednesday he could disagree with Democratic lawmakers and still stand up against bullying from constituent groups pushing certain legislation.

“I thought Poncho handled himself much more respectfully than I have,” said Springer, who said he kicked someone out of his office last session. Nevarez said Wednesday he appreciated his colleague’s effort, saying it proved the “solidarity” and “camaraderie” of the Texas House.

On Jan. 13, the first day of the 2015 session, Nevarez was confronted by a group of 10-15 pro-gun activists from the group Open Carry Tarrant County. During the incident, which was filmed by the group’s leader and posted on Facebook, members were heard calling Nevarez “a tyrant to the Constitution” and telling him he “won’t be here very long, bro.”

After the video went viral on social media, the House passed new ruled to allow members to bill the state to install panic buttons in their offices. But, Nevarez continued to receive threats, and eventually, the Department of Public Safety assigned a security detail to ensure his safety.

“I’m concerned with my safety,” Nevarez said Wednesday, saying he was hoping he wouldn’t need the detail all session. He said racial slurs used against him were especially hurtful to him and his family.

A gun owner, Nevarez said he isn’t sure how he will vote on open carry legislation, but said he likely would not vote for Stickland’s bill or something similar: “It sends the wrong message that a few people can come and do these things and they’re going to be rewarded for being bullies and being aggressive.”

He also expressed his concern for the safety of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who on Tuesday raised the ire of open carry activists after he said he didn’t think the proposal had the necessary legislative support to pass this session.

“It gives you another slice of the kind of rhetoric they’re capable of,” said Nevarez. “And where it goes from here I don’t know. But they turned on one of their own really quick.”

More than two dozen gun related bills have been filed this session, including multiple pieces of legislation to legalize both licensed and unlicensed open carry of handguns, and to allow concealed carry license holders to tote their guns in more places, such as sporting events.